Dreamt up last January by Karl Lagerfeld, the Floating Heel sandal made its debut alongside a host of tight-fitting redingotes and polite, petal pink dresses on the Tuilleries' runway of Chanel's spring couture collection.

And though such extravagant accessories are usually intended as mere decorative showpieces, the sexy black detached stiletto garnered such enthusiasm from the crowd that included Kate Capshaw, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Bernadette Chirac that, as of August, it has become available in the ready-to-wear sections of Chanel boutiques nationwide.

"It's all about women walking on air...dancing," says a Chanel spokesperson, who tried on the ethereal little numbers and confirmed their comfort quotient.

Split at the sole where the metal heel is fixed -- with another sole, that cradles the foot, rising up into the air -- the avant-garde shoes are not only a technical achievement, but also a 2cm boost to an already stiletto-enhanced stature.

And with a strap that fastens into a charming bow below the ankle, they ultimately appear feminine and graceful.

The sandals come in satin and velvet kid for $695, and python for $795.